Transparency

ABSTRACT

A transparency having a coating of material which is compatible with ink in pressure responsive elements is prepared. Specifically, a transparent substrate is coated with polyamides and styrene resins to form an image bearing surface for telecommunicated copy.

I United States Patent 1 1 [111 3,867,168 Akman 1 Feb. 18, 1975 [54]TRANSPARENCY 3,340,086 9/1967 Groak 117/364 1 Inventor Alptekin Akman,Ontario, 3:253:25 12/1333 SZSVEZS?F?T..?.J;IIIjjiiijiii'i'l 1/3 1 5?[73] Assignee: Xerox Corporation, Stamford,

Conn. Primary ExaminerThomas J. Herbert, Jr. [22] Filed: July 6, 1973[21] Appl. No.: 377,167

[57] ABSTRACT [52] U.S. Cl ..1l7/36.l,117/138.8 A, 117/161 R,

117/16l UH A transparency having a coating of material which is Cl. iompatible in pressure responsive elements is Fleld of Search 117/36-1,161 161 prepared. Specifically, a transparent substrate is l A, 129coated with polyamides and styrene resins to form an image bearingsurface for telecommunicated copy. [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 1 Claim, N0 Drawings 3,037,879 6/1962 Newman et a1 1l7/36.l

TRANSPARENCY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates torecording blanks and, in particular, recording elements which respond tothe physical action of stimuli applied thereto as, for example, pressureresponses to telephone signals.

In the facsimile recording art, two types of recording blanks are wellknown, namely, a photographic type and the direct recording type. Thephotographic blank suffers from the disadvantage that the recordingmachine must be operated under darkroom conditions and comparativelyexpensive photographic developing equipment and operations are requiredbefore a complete record is obtained. However, the direct recordingblank is capable of use under normal light conditions, and the record isimmediately and permanently produced as the telephone signals areconverted into electrical energy.

One kind of direct recording blank that has been found universallyuseful in electrical stylus recording contains a backing or web of paperwhich has a mask-,

ing coating applied thereto, which coating is removable in localizedareas in response to applied electrical signals, so as to expose thecontrasting undersurface which is usually black. In such blanks, theelectrical characteristics of the blank or substrate material are ofextreme importance. Therefore, in one type of substrate the paperbacking is itself rendered electrically conductive to a predetermineddegree of incorporating in the paper itself a conductive material suchas powdered carbon black. In another well known type of blank, the paperbacking can be of any 'kind of paper and has its surface treated orcoated with a conducting material, generally powdered carbon, to impartthe necessary blackness and conductivity.

Another type of direct recording blank is the pressure sensitive elementhaving an ink coating on a substrate. Generally, the ink or pigmentmaterial is encapsulated in spherical units which break upon pressureand thereafter deposits on a paper substrate. Because the ink isgenerally liquid in pressure sensitive elements of this type, absorbentsubstrates such as paper are almost always used. This is particularlytrue of telecommunication reproduction utilizing pressure sensitiveimaging elements. In this instance, the physical nature of thereproduction process (scanning, etc.) requires that the pressuresensitive ink be directly absorbed on the substrate element. Otherwise,smearing will likely occur upon removal of the pressure sensitive layerand, additionally, a drying step will be required.

For the aforementioned reasons, direct preparation of transparencies ina pressure activatable telecommunication reproduction device isdifficult. Transparencies are generally glossy and nonabsorbent and,there fore, ink smears or accumulates on the surfaces. Careful handlingas well as a drying step are usually required to prepare a transparencydirectly on a pressure activatable telephone reproduction device. Suchprocedures are time consuming as well as cumbersome.

As can be ascertained from the above, there is a continuing need fordeveloping means for directly forming a transparency on atelecommunications copy device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the presentinvention, a new transparency element which enables the directpreparation of transparencies from telecopied recordings is provided.Specifically, a transparency support element is prepared which comprisesa transparent support overcoated with particular materials which arecompatible with ink in pressure sensitive transfer elements. Theparticular coating materials used on the transparency substratefacilitates transfer from the pressure sensitve member and enablesdirect preparation of the transparency reproduction without anyadditional processing step. A specific embodiment includes atransparency support comprising a polysulfone substrate overcoated witha copolymer of vinyl toluene and alpha methyl styrene.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 7 As mentioned above, the instantinvention relates to the use of pressure sensitive recording elementsfor the purpose of preparing transparencies. In particular. a layercontaining pressure transferable ink material is sandwiched with atransparency support comprising a transparent substrate and anovercoating of material which is compatible with the transferable ink.Thereafter, the sandwiched configuration is subjected to a pressurestylus which responds to telephoned copy signals whereupon a positivetransparency reproduction occurs. As used herein, a compatible materialis one which absorbs the transferable ink from the imaging elementthereby forming the transparency without an additional fusing step.

Referring now to a composition of the pressure transferable ink layer tobe used in theinstant imaging element, any type of pressure responsiveink or ink element may be used. Therefore, encapsulated ink particles ina paper substrate may be utilized. While the composition of the inkitself is not critical, tacky materials such as those outlined incopending application Ser. No. 340,992, filed Mar. 14. 1973, arepreferred. Generally, in the case of a pressure transfer material, thisrequires the use of up to 20% of a plasticizer material such as diphenylphthalate. Additional plasticizers as well as electroresistive elementsusable in the instant invention may be found in the aforementionedcopending application.

The compatible coating materials usable on the transparent support ofthe instant invention include all materials which absorb or accept theimage ink from the pressure responsive ink element. This generallyincludes all polymers that are soluable in aliphatic and aromatichydrocarbons. While any and all resinous coatings having theseproperties fall within the purview of the invention, particularmaterials include polyamides and styrene polymers. Among polyamidematerials are Emerez 3796D', a polyamide manufactured by EmeryCorporation and Versamide 940, a polyamide of the General MillsCorporation. Among the styrene polymers include the copolymers of vinyltoluene and alpha methyl styrene sold under the name of Piccotex (Penn.Ind. Chem).

While no theory is offered in limiting the instant invention, it isbelieved that the solvents or oils in the ink materials dissolve thetransparency coating and thereby the image sets, in a non-smearingpattern, without the necessity of a fusing or setting step.

The above mentioned advantages and other features of the instantinvention are further illustrated by the following examples and specificembodiments of the invention.

DESCRlPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The following is a typical exampleof coating formulations to make the transparency elements useful in theinstantly disclosed invention:

EXAMPLE 1 A batch of a resin coating is prepared by dissolving 8 gramsof Piccotex 100, a vinyl toluene-alpha-methyl styrene copolymermanufactured by the Pennflnd. Che-m. Corp., in 30 grams of a butylalcohol-toluene mixture. The mixture is then blade coated on atransparent LEXAN support. The resulting transparency is then allowed toair-dry.

The coated transparency is then sandwiched with a pressure releasableink element and placed in a Xerox Telecopier lll machine. A reproductionof a telecommunicated origanal was then made on the machine. Thesandwiched element is then peeled with the resulting copy fixed firmlyand non-smearingly in the transparency.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been describedherein, it is not intended to limit the invention solely thereto, but toinclude all of the obvious variations and modifications in the spiritand scope of the appended claims. What is claimed is: l. A process ofmaking transparencies comprising: a. providing a pressure sensitiveinktransfer element: b. sandwiching the transfer-element with atransparent substrate having a copolymer of vinyl toluene and alphamethyl styrene coated thereon; '0. pressure sensitizing the sandwichedmember in response to telecommunciated signals; and d. separating thetwo elements of the sandwich whereby a fixed image is formed on thecoated transparency support.

l l l

1. A PROCESS FOR MAKING TRANSPARENCIES COMPRISING: A. PROVIDING APRESSURE SENSITIVE INK TRANSFER ELEMENT; B. SANDWICHING THE TRANSFERELEMENT WITH A TRANSPARENT SUBSTRATE HAVING A COPOLYMER OF VINYL TOLUENEAND ALPHA METHYL STYRENE COATED THEREON; C. PRESSURE SENSITTIZING THESANDWICHED MEMBER IN RESPONSE TO TELECOMMUNCIATED SIGNALS; AND D.SEPARATING THE TWO ELEMENTS OF THE SANDWICH WHEREBY A FIXED IMAGE ISFORMED ON THE COATED TRANSPARENCY SUPPORT.